Arizonans are volunteering again after pandemic

Arizonans are generous when it comes to volunteering their time. 

The big picture: Organized volunteering and informal helping are both rising after COVID-era dips, a new AmeriCorps report finds.

Why it matters: Volunteer work — assisting those in need and providing purpose to those who do help — is a bedrock of American civic life.

Zoom in: Between September 2022 and September 2023, 30% of Arizonans volunteered through a formal organization at least once, per the biennial report based on survey data collected by the U.S. Census Bureau.

• That's a 6.5% increase since 2021, which was preceded by years of declines. 

Zoom out: Arizonans were more generous with their time than the average American. About 28.3% of Americans volunteered through a formal organization during that same period, according to the report.

• The national average was up 5 percentage points from 2021 when the pandemic disrupted almost all facets of American life — volunteer work included.
• The report also found a rise in the share of Americans who informally helped their neighbors, with more than 54% saying they lent a hand to someone nearby.

Between the lines: Twyla Marcrum, vice president of donor engagement for the Valley of the Sun United Way, told Axios that many of her organization's corporate partners made a big post-pandemic push to re-engage their employees in volunteerism. 

• Many employers in the Valley offer their employees time off for volunteering, she said. 
• Marcrum said Arizona's weather offers a lot of options for outdoor volunteering that people don't have in colder climates.
• And Arizona's notorious summer weather provides opportunities, too, with many groups using volunteers to help people, especially the unhoused, beat the heat. Marcrum said the Valley of the Sun United Way distributed more than 15,000 heat relief kits this year. 

Reality check: Many people are inspired to volunteer during the holidays, Marcrum said, or at the beginning of the school year through backpack and school supply drives. 

• But while it's great to donate your time during the holidays, she said, people should think about volunteering during other parts of the year, as well. 

What's next: If you're looking to volunteer, Valley of the Sun United Way has a list of opportunities on its website. 

• Marcrum also suggested checking out 211 Arizona and HandsOn Greater Phoenix.

The bottom line: Despite our increasing reluctance to talk about big issues, the findings paint a broad picture of "renewed engagement in American civic life," as the report puts it.